http://sentencedoctor.com/ | We may be living in the age of 140-characters but having strong writing skills will always be of importance.

2. It may be the age of the Internet and 140-character messages,
but strong writing skills and basic English grammar still matter.
Believe me, they will make a difference in achieving many of
your life goals.
Success in college depends on coherent writing skills,
whatever your major, and especially if you aspire to become a
professional writer.
Access to the college of your choice is more likely if you put
effort into building your writing skills and can make a polished
written case for why you should be admitted.

3. Most jobs require writing skills, and the better yours are, the more likely you will be first in line
for the next chance to advance your career or qualify for a raise.
Studies show that better writing skills increase your credibility. Carefully written
communication conveys a sense of responsibility and shows you care about getting things
right.1
If your job has the word “writer” in the title, or even “journalist,” you will be held to a higher
standard, and must have polished skills.

4. You take some care in how you dress and groom yourself for
the workplace, because you know it affects how people
perceive you and your work.
Writing has the same effect, so make sure everything you
share with coworkers, clients, and supervisors is as polished
as your look.
Start by using your computer’s built-in spell-check tool, then
go over your document again to check sentence grammar.

5. Language and writing skills in early
education are the foundation of all
future learning.
Show your child the fun of forming
letters and writing small notes to
friends and family at home.
Build skills early with books for each
stage of development. Read to them
and with them, and as they become
more proficient, let them read to you.

6. Careless writing seems rushed, distracting
from the message you want to communicate.
LinkedIn member profiles examined over a
ten-year period showed that those who made
45% more grammatical errors were promoted
one to four times, while those who made
fewer were promoted six to nine times.2
For help polishing a resume, document, and
more, call on a professional copy editor like
The Sentence Doctor to give your writing
more impact.

7. If you own a small business or
hope to develop one, your future
could depend on your ability to
communicate in writing.
Less is more in business writing.
Be concise and learn to convey
ideas in a straightforward, clear
style.
Quote hard facts and figures to
make a case, for example, to
present a business plan. Double
and triple check your sources,
and document them to
demonstrate your work’s
authenticity.

8. 1. Get to the point. In the business world,
no one has time to wade through text
to find a kernel of information.
2. Construct sentences in the active rather
than passive voice whenever possible.
Passive voice weakens the idea you
want to convey, diluting the substance.
3. Write to your audience. Think about the
intended reader(s) and gear your
writing “voice” accordingly. An email to
a colleague or peer can use a much
more casual tone than one to a
potential client.

9. As with any essential skill, writing should be practiced
and maintained throughout life. It can always be
improved and will reward your effort on many levels.
Good, fundamental writing will enable you to:
• Express your inner self, helping you refine and
clarify your thinking.
• Retain your ideas to go back and revisit later.
• Explain complicated thoughts to others.
• Stand out in a competitive work environment.

10. Need another pair of eyes to make your writing clear and stylistically excellent? That’s the
job of Phyllis Wooten, the Sentence Doctor. She is dedicated to perfecting your writing at
reasonable cost.
Contact her for help composing a resume, e-book, and more at
thesentencedoctor@gmail.com. Visit the web site, www.sentencedoctor.com for more
information.

11. 1. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-good-writing-skills-workplace-
10931.html
2. http://business.time.com/2013/04/19/good-writing-can-help-you-succeed/

12. Summary
When you need to communicate in writing at school or work, through instant
message, email, or in a more formal document, your writing skills determine how you
are perceived at the other end.